Delaine Eastin, Gubernatorial Candidate, Makes Education a Priority

Delaine Eastin, California’s Superintendent of Public Instruction 1995–2003, is the first non-millionaire female running for governor of California.

Eastin spoke with gusto and a sense of humor at the Progressive Democrats of Benicia meeting on March 13, 2018. She is an intelligent, energetic politician, and a non-corporate funded candidate who is authentic and progressive.

When asked what she wanted people to mostly remember about her talk, Eastin said her comments about education. Her blue-collar family made education a priority and she views this opportunity a gift that gave her a sense of optimism, understanding, and confidence to make choices that would shape her destiny and change her life. Delaine Eastin wants this opportunity for every child and has made education a foundational issue of her campaign.

She states that California is now the 41st state in per pupil spending and the 1st state in per prisoner expenditure. Since 1985 California has built 13 colleges and universities and 23 prisons. Delaine said this is a waste of human resources and tax dollars, and the school to prison pipeline, a reality for some, she is determined to change. She believes that educational opportunities can reduce crime and incarceration and that it can boost economic development. It makes sense and it is the right thing to do.

Delaine describes herself as the candidate with the courage, vision, and heart to do the job. She said other politicians might tell you what you want to hear but don’t have the heart, courage, and vision to do it. Delaine said she has all three: she sees the big picture, has the courage to make the tough choices that will make a difference, and the heart to govern for all people including those at the margins.

In addition to education and prison reform, Delaine Eastin also wants to implement affordable housing, health care for all, and gun control. She will work towards banning fracking, closing the prop 13 corporate tax loophole, writing a long-range plan for California, addressing climate change, plus a myriad of other goals. Though Eastin has made education her foundational issue the environment, economy, crime prevention, and health care are also important issues to her.

Delaine Eastin’s resume includes extensive work in government as California’s first woman Superintendent of Public Instruction, as state assemblywoman 1986-1994 for districts 18 & 20, and councilwoman for Union City 1980-1986. She was a corporate strategic planner for Pacific Telephone and a professor at community colleges and Mills College.

During her various careers, Delaine Eastin has honed a hands-on approach to problem solving: first consulting with the staff to identify the problem, building consensus and working together to find answers and resolve obstacles, and implementing solutions. She is an energetic leader doing as she says a “full-court press” and claims to have a brass backbone. “Speak the truth even if your voice shakes.” is a Maggie Kuhn‘s quote that Delaine Eastin follows even when it is difficult.